What is the difference between conventional and organic farming?

 

Agriculture, being one of the primitive occupations of man, has evolved for centuries and has adapted to several new changes, new methods, and techniques to improve agricultural yield. Though these new methods and techniques proved beneficial to increase the farmer's yield and quality of the crops, but in the long run, some of them started showing adverse effects on the surrounding factors.

Therefore, new techniques and new methods were invented over the course to overcome the difficulties and harmful effects that certain agricultural practices inflicted on nature, the environment, and human life.

Thus, organic farming came up as an alternative to conventional farming practices. In this article, we will take a quick glance at these two specific farming methods and the difference between them.

 

What is conventional farming?

In simple terms, conventional farming is a system that includes using synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides during the crop cultivation process. Practicing intensive tillage, concentrated animal feeding operations, heavy irrigation, and monoculture, or using genetically modified organisms, and many such other practices according to different regional needs together form the conventional farming method.

This method developed gradually, as every new practice gave a different, better result. All the new techniques resulted in better production yield sufficient to fulfill the ever-increasing food demand with high-quality crops.

 

What is organic farming?

Organic farming is a farming method that emerged in the early 20th century due to the rapidly changing farming practices mentioned above. It is a system of agricultural production that uses those practices that won't harm the natural environment or living organisms, instead helps conserve the natural resources while giving almost as good results as conventional farming.

Using organic materials, animal and plant residues, healthy farming practices are what defines organic farming.

 

Similarities between conventional and organic farming.

Before moving forward to find out the differences, lets first see if the

Both use pesticides to control infestation and high-quality weed removers

Both use similar agricultural equipment like good quality, fuel-efficient, durable farm tractors, combine harvesters, tillers, etc.

 

What is the difference between conventional and organic farming?

As we have roughly seen what both the terms mean, let's proceed to understand their specific differences regarding their positive and negative effects.

 

Conventional farming	Organic farming
Conventional farming relies on chemical solutions like synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to fight pests and weeds and provide plant nutrition.	On the other hand, organic farming relies on natural principles like biodiversity, composting, and cycles adapted to local conditions rather than synthetic inputs like chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to produce healthy food for human beings.
Conventional farming has taken a new approach towards farming, emphasizing advanced farming techniques that have evolved with time. It uses modern technologies like GMOs, chemical crop protection, synthetic fertilizers, and other advanced practices that would help increase the farmer's yield.	Organic farmers apply techniques first used thousands of years ago, such as crop rotations and the use of composted animal manures and green manure crops, in ways that are economically sustainable in today's world. Although organic farming uses age-old techniques, it has wholeheartedly accepted some of the advanced technologies like an agriculture tractor or combine harvesters that have become one of the inevitable parts of a farmer's life.
It is a known fact that the conventional farming method can produce more food than organic farming. This means the total yield or crop production is more than the organic method It is possible to produce much larger quantities of food with more strategic planning with the conventional method.	Organic farming, though a healthy alternative, has a lower yield record than conventional methods. Therefore, switching to organic farming would lead to a reduction in total output.
As the most advanced technologies are used in conventional farming, less manual labor is needed to perform tasks.	Organic farming uses traditional techniques keeping in mind the environmental and nature conservation, hence needs more manual labour than conventional.
Unlimited use of fertilizers and pesticides has become a must for good output through conventional methods.	The use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides is totally avoided. At the same time, the types of fertilizers and pesticides that are used are from natural unharmful sources, that too in proper limits.
Conventional food production is known to utilize genetically modified organisms (GMO) which are different from plants and animals that have been selectively bred.	GMOs are not allowed in the organic method of farming.
Loss of biological diversity is a major demerit of conventional farming.	Organic producers implement a wide range of strategies to develop and maintain biological diversity and replenish soil fertility.
Conventional farming does not consider these individual natural components, but its main emphasis lies in the overall output, even if it compromises these farm-dependent species.	Organic farming increases species richness, be it birds, insects, or plants.
Water pollution, including fertilizer runoff causing eutrophication, land degradation, erosion, soil compaction, loss of biodiversity, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and chemical leaching, are a few of the harmful effects of the conventional method.	Organic farming is ecologically sustainable than conventional farming. Organic farming has a smaller carbon footprint, conserves and builds soil health, replenishes natural ecosystems for cleaner water and air, all without toxic pesticide residues
Conventionally produced crops contain fewer antioxidants, contain pesticide residues, and have a higher concentration of heavy metals.	Organic foods have always been healthier than conventionally produced foods due to their no use of the chemical policy.

Takeaway

Conventional and organic farming methods have different consequences on the environment and people.

Though conventional agriculture causes increased greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion, water pollution, threatens human health, and adversely affects the surrounding, it has helped improve the overall quality of the produced food. It has made it possible to increase the yield of the farmer's crop production.

On the other hand, any organic farming method's primary concern is to practice farming to sustain the natural resources. But, while doing so, this farming method affects the overall yield of the farm and may sometimes be a bit expensive.

Organic production does not simply mean avoiding conventional chemical inputs, nor is it substituting natural inputs for synthetic ones. Instead, organic production aims at sustaining the overall environment and the surrounding spaces; besides, organic farming is known to emphasize the overall health system.

Types of Farming Methods Practiced in India

Farming in India has been an age-old primitive occupation. It won’t be an exaggeration that the Indian agricultural sector has been the primary backbone and one of the critical factors in the Indian economy to flourish.

From ancient times, agriculture has been practiced in India and has evolved through centuries to gain the present form. Along its long way, it adapted to different farming methods, techniques, agricultural equipment like a farm tractor and started practicing farming with the new changes.

Hence, contrary to what is assumed by many, Indian farmers have made it possible to efficiently flourish their fields with greenery despite the weather conditions, rainfall uncertainty, famines, drought-like conditions, and inadequate infrastructural facilities.

This was made possible with the help of adapting to new challenges and partnering with new techniques and practices that proved to be beneficial for agricultural growth.

Now without wasting time, let’s get to the point.

Types of Farming Methods Practiced in India

Farming practices usually depend on the terrain, soil conditions, climate, irrigation facility or water supply, and other favourable conditions in that particular region.

Indian agricultural system too depends on eight main types of farming practices according to the phenomenon mentioned above.

• Subsistence Farming
• Commercial Farming
• Intensive Farming
• Dry Agriculture
• Mixed and Multiple Agriculture
• Crop Rotation
• Terrace Cultivation

Subsistence Farming

Subsistence farming is basically the traditional farming system, which was primitively practiced to fulfil the farmer’s family’s needs. Sufficient with minimum tools and equipment and household labour, subsistence farming doesn’t need anything more.

The yield is less, electricity and irrigation facilities are not adequate, and most of the process is done manually, resulting in smaller output. Neither high variety seeds nor fertilizers are available nor needed in this small-scale farming.

Subsistence farming is of two types:

Intensive Subsistence Farming 

Intensive subsistence farming includes a small farm of land for growing crops, low-cost and straightforward tools, and more labour. The word intensive means hard work, so it means it requires more labour. With the kind of climate suitable for this method, with sunshine and fertile soils, growing more than one crop annually in the same land is possible. 

Primitive subsistence farming

Primitive subsistence farming is also known as shifting cultivation. Primitive subsistence farming also includes the other primitive farming types like nomadic herding, livestock rearing, and fisheries. But here, we will be concentrating only on the shifting cultivation.

Shifting cultivation

This cultivation is spread in thickly forested areas like northeast India. These are the areas of heavy rainfall. It is a quick regeneration of vegetation. The process of shifting cultivation starts with clearing all the land by falling trees and burning them. Then the ash of the trees is mixed with the land soil. Crops are grown in this land for 2 or 3 years. Then the land is left out because of fertilizers, harmful chemicals, and the natural being squeezed out of the soil decreases its nourishing power. Once the soil or that piece of land isn’t further beneficial, farmers move to the other land to repeat this process. You may know this system by different names like Jhum, ponam, podu, slash and burn agriculture, etc.

Commercial Farming

Commercial farming means that the crops are growing for sale in the market, and a profit will be earned from it. The primary purpose of this farming is business. It requires large areas and a high level of technology, like advanced equipment like large farm tractors, harvesters, tillers, etc.

Commercial farming is further divided into three key types depending on their practices and components.

Commercial grain farming is done for grains in the winter season, in which only a single crop is grown at one time.

Commercial mixed farming is done for growing foods, fodder crops, with one or more crops grown simultaneously. It needs good rainfall and irrigation facility and is done almost during the same duration.

Commercial plantation farming requires much labour and large areas for crops like tea, coffee, cotton, rubber, etc. These are all tree crops. This type of farming practice is mostly done in hilly areas like Assam, sub-Himalayan, Nigiri, and West Bengal. It takes a long period to mature the crops, but these are kept for long periods.

Intensive Farming

Intensive farming, also known as industrial agriculture, is practiced in areas where irrigation has been possible. The farmers use fertilizers and pesticides on a large scale. They have brought their land under a high-yielding variety of seeds. They have mechanized agriculture by introducing machines in various processes of farming.

This farming type is characterized by a low fallow ratio and higher use of inputs such as capital and labour per unit land area. This is in contrast to traditional agriculture, in which the inputs per unit of land are lower.

Dry Agriculture

Dry farming or dryland farming is defined as growing crops without irrigation in areas that receive an annual rainfall of 750 mm – 500 mm or even less.

Dryland agriculture is subject to high variability in areas sown, yields and output. These variations are the results of weather conditions, especially rainfall.

Mixed and Multiple Agriculture:

It is referred to the cultivation of crops and raising of animals simultaneously. It is used to denote the practice of growing two or more crops together. In this farming, a number of crops having varying maturing periods are sown at the same time. This practice is followed in areas having good rainfall or facilities of irrigation.

Crop Rotation

This type of farming practice refers to the growing number of crops one after the other in a fixed rotation to maintain soil fertility. The rotation of crops may be complete in some areas, while it may involve more than one year in others.

Highly fertilizer-intensive crops like sugarcane or tobacco are rotated with cereal crops. The selection of crops for rotation depends upon the local soil conditions and the experience and the understanding of the farmers.

Terrace Cultivation:

This farming is practiced in hilly and mountainous regions. The hill and mountain slopes are cut to form terraces, and the land is used in the same way as in permanent agriculture.

Since the availability of flat land is limited, terraces are made to provide a small patch of level land. Soil erosion is also controlled due to terrace formation on hill slopes.

5 Ways Tractor Can Improve Your Farming

Ever since there has been a significant improvement in the state of farming equipment in India, the role of modern tractors has become much more critical, with tractors being used on farms to automate a lot of agricultural responsibilities. Modern tractors are helpful in many ways, be it ploughing the field, clearing bushes, tilling, spreading fertilizers, or planting. Some farmers also use the tractor as a tool to take care of their lawns and maintain their landscape areas on a daily basis.

Tractors have become the foundation of modern farming. Tractors are used in the field and the garden for each activity, from tilling to spraying and seeding to harvesting. The arrival of the tractor has changed the way farms look and operate over the years, as they have increased the farmer's ability to maintain more land and produce crops faster and more efficiently than ever.

What were the immediate changes tractor effected?

The advent of the tractor has allowed the farmer to specialize in crops and livestock breeding, which transformed the farm economy into a commercial crop structure and has increased the efficiency of farmers and that of the farm.

Before the arrival of tractors, farmers grew crops that were sufficient to feed themselves and their cattle. The tractor helped change this standard equation. Farmers now started getting engaged in selling their crops to purchase fuel and maintain their tractors, thus motivating them to increase their income. Depending on cash rather than an element of subsistence, they became more susceptible to financial awareness due to their dependence on the often-volatile markets for their crops and petrol.

The tractor changed the way the land was used before, and the crops farmers grew also now planned and strategized to gain more profit. Before, farmers had to provide a section of their land to grow manure crops and grass to feed their livestock. Petrol tractors freed farmers from this need and allowed them to devote that space to more commercial cash crops like wheat, bajra, jowar, sugarcane, cotton, etc.

Due to the increased efficiency and productivity tractors brought, farms became more cultivable, as farmers could now handle more land and farm activities.

Five ways tractor improved farming

Tractors have been a revolutionary factor for the agricultural industry to develop. With many tractor models introduced until now, we have been able to see significant improvements to the industry as a whole, and new techniques and technologies, and farming methods have contributed to the overall development.

Let's check out some of the benefits that tractors have provided to the farmers.

Less use of animals

Bullocks and other farm animals usually need to be fed and cared for throughout the year, which used to be highly time-consuming and extra work for farmers. Likewise, these animals must set aside some part of the land to harvest enough feed manure to sustain the animal. 

With tractors coming, this land can now be used for growing extra crops instead of harvesting manure feed. Also, cattle maintenance and the associated expenses too have become less. Animals too cannot be harmed now, as most of their work is done by a tractor.

Increased Income

Tractor producers have recorded their highest ever sales in recent years. Selling over lakhs of units, which shows the popularity of tractors among the farmers, indicates that farmers are opening up to the idea of investing in multi-purpose tractors.

With large-scale cultivation, farmers are gaining large-scale production yield and thus can increase their income compared to when they were dependant on manual or cattle help.

It must be noticed that since tractors come with such an excellent feature to suit specific tasks and necessities, farmers can work with several options, for instance, mini tractors with a range of horsepower range of 15-25hp are perfect for small-scale landscaping works and farm duties such as tunnelling, transportation or tilling on extensive grounds, medium grounds and gardens. This reduces their dependence on other allied activities.

Besides utilizing a tractor that consumes fuel, farmers can now save money and increase overall revenues due to the fact that it costs much more to take care of animals continually.

Improved Efficiency

While tractors themselves have provided increased efficiency for speed and consistency, technology such as crop yield monitors and GPS field navigation has also helped farmers map their crop yields and soil quality across every single inch of their farm. Ultimately, these GPS devices can help significantly with crop management.

A good example would be the two-wheeled tractor, another favourite farmer-friendly tractor due to its self-powering and self-propelling nature. The tractor can pull and control numerous farms implements such as a cultivator, a harrow, a trailer, a plough and harvesters, seed drills, a rotovator, etc. 

Reduced physical activity

Farmers now do not need to rely on their cattle or laborers to carry out any particular farming task. It's just a matter of time, and the work is done within no time with the help of a farm tractor.

Fewer hours in the field and lengthy reduced workdays help cut down on fatigue, allowing for more work to be done overall and the ability to meet any deadlines.

Resilience 

Tractors are characteristically created with controlling engines to collide with rough lands and pull tremendously heavy masses, making them operative in hard-hitting and undeveloped landscapes. Modern tractors are also becoming cheaper by the day, coming with additional features such as cast-iron front axles, reaper-harvesters, etc.

Easy operability of Tractors

Since most farmers are required to spend most of their day out in the field, it is challenging for them to study heavy instructions and follow them while using their farming equipment.

Modern tractors, however, have features such as power shift transmission and hydro-static transmission, which make the operations a lot easier. In addition to that, most modern tractors also feature power steering options, making them more accessible. Some advanced models help decrease operator exhaustion with designer shift panels and a mechanically receptive transmission.

Conclusion 

Tractors are used for many important functions like ploughing, tilling, and landing fields, in addition to regular lawn care, landscape maintenance, transfer or spreading fertilizers, and weed cleaning.

Modern agricultural methods aim to get a very high yield of farm production. It is also important to get a good profit out of the farm yields. Implementing a good number of tools has now become the precursor for a good and fruitful harvest.

These multifunctional tractors are one of the best inventions of humankind and are serving our farming community through all odds.

Factors That Have Contributed to The Agriculture Sector in India

Since independence, Indian agriculture has seen a tremendous change. Going through various highs and lows, the agriculture sector has been the most critical measure of economic stability since independence.

Constructive agricultural reforms like abolishing the zamindari system finally give the right to own the land to the actual cultivators and not the zamindars who merely owned the massive lands. This was a British-era law that needed to be abolished. This helped to lead to the increase in the production, forming of cooperative societies that provided quality seeds and necessary fertilizers to farmers at a reasonable price, passing of the land ceiling act, and biggest of all, the implementation of the green revolution, were some of the reforms enacted by the Indian Government for the upliftment of agriculture in India.

Still, there is much to do to boost the overall agricultural contribution towards India's gross domestic product. Still, here in this article, we will talk about the contributions that have been made to make agriculture strong enough.

Current Status of Agriculture in India

India is an agricultural economy. Agriculture and the allied activities associated with it act as the primary source of livelihood for more than 60% population of rural India. It provides employment to approximately 52% of labour. It's contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is approximately around 18%. Despite steady growth, agriculture hasn't been developed yet due to unavoidable reasons like the fundamental problems faced by farmers in their day-to-day farming activities. Farmers are the most affected by the pests, as they still use the traditional method, the emptying groundwater resources, unaware of soil analysis, and crop examination illiteracy and unawareness about their nutrient content, mis planning for the cultivation, weather and environmental calamities, natural calamities and water scarcity and its management are few of the issues farmers face on a daily basis.

Factors that have contributed towards agricultural growth

Here we will take a look at the factors that have contributed to the hitherto development of agriculture.

Irrigation System

An irrigation system was gradually developed in India. Dams, wells, massive pipelines, water motors were introduced in the farming sector to boost productivity by protecting the farmyard, plants, and trees from inadequate watering and drought. A well-designed and planned system has ensured that the plants get the proper amount of water to flourish. 

Infrastructure

Infrastructure like roads, large storage houses, industries, markets have helped the easy transportation of crops and final goods store the surplus in godowns to protect them from unpredictable weather conditions, and industries to manufacture the raw material transported straight from the fields. As you can see, these things are interlinked and together contributed to the agriculture sector building. The distance between the field and the market determines transportation costs; hence, agricultural crops like vegetables. Are grown near the market.

Tractor

Farm Tractors were introduced in Indian during the 1950s. But the production was too slow; until 1991, economic reforms initiated by the Government helped change the face of manufacturing, and by the late 1990s, production approached 270,000 per year. Post-1990s, the Indian industries developed much within the country, reaching India's southern and eastern parts. Now India has almost 29% of the total tractor population around the world.

Tractors have been the backbone of agricultural growth in India. Famers were able to increase their yield and production.

Climate

Climate has a critical role that dominates the agriculture sector. Crops require sufficient heat and moisture for their growth. India has favorable climatic conditions for farming; hence, agriculture is successfully done in India as the temperature is high throughout the year.

Government Reforms

Land reforms, Agricultural Price Commission, New agricultural strategy, Investment in research & extension services, Provision of credit facilities, Improving rural infrastructure, Introducing modern farming and modern techniques have helped agricultural growth in India. The Government policies have also influenced agricultural land use by restricting the cultivation of a crop or forcing the farmers to grow a particular crop, e.g., area under sugarcane and oilseeds cultivation has increased in India because of greater emphasis put by the Government on these crops.

Capital

Substantial capital investments and financial subsidies have also contributed to the upliftment of farmers. Purchase of machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yielding variety seeds require plenty of money. The way the scientific and technological aspects have developed has significantly impacted agriculture. Farmers, using primitive methods, obtain poor yields. But on the other hand, farmers are using modern farm technology in fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, high-yielding variety seeds, etc. The farm yields are high.

Human Resources

A sufficient number of human resources determines the character and type of agriculture. Intensive cultivation requires a regular supply of low-priced labour. Availability of low-priced laborers but efficient in performance is essential for cultivating crops like rice, tea, cotton, and rubber. Thus, the factor of availability of labour is also vital in agriculture.

Fertile Soils

Nutrient-enriched soils are another critical physical factor that affects agriculture. Soils differ with respect to their physical and chemical composition. Soils may be acceptable for immediate cultivation or coarse, porous or non-porous, which further needs to be prepared for cultivation. Generally, finely powdered soils like loam or silt are fertile, but alluvial soils are the best and widely found in almost all regions in India. The chemical composition and the nutrient level of the soil determine its productivity.

Solution

Indian agriculture is developing consistently but at a too slow pace. This pace needs to be boosted with directive measures and robust implementation. For this to happen, farmers in India should be empowered. They should be provided with the latest machinery, advanced technologies, well-equipped farm tractors, loan, and financial assistance, properly developed infrastructure, and so on. GPS systems, Artificial intelligence should be promoted in the agricultural sector too.

With rising self-sufficiency in food production, agriculture and agricultural production prospects are pretty good.

With few technical measures, India can achieve massive success in the field. The agricultural sector's future is bright if good initiatives are commenced like cloud computing, combining tractor services for ploughing, and sowing seeds to use sensors and artificial intelligence for precision farming. 

The agriculture sector should use digital tools to benefit small and marginal farmers.

Conclusion 

India has come a long way now, and so has the agricultural sector. 

Several farmer issues still need to be addressed even after 74 years of independence. Despite innovative measures and policies for uplifting the agricultural sector's performance, few discrepancies are yet to be resolved.

All You Need to Know About Tractor Horsepower

The power of a tractor is cached in the level of horsepower it is built with. This power may differ according to the farmer needs and hence it isn't a single constant measure for all tractors.

This makes it important to understand the basic and essential facts about horsepower which we have attempted to discuss in detail in this article. As tractors are primarily used for farming, this article's approach would be considering the farm tractors in particular.

What is Horsepower?

Horsepower is the power that an engine generates to operate various functions efficiently. 

When it comes to tractors, the energy or power needed to perform various farm operations like planting, sowing, harvesting, tilling, etc, with consistent efficiency is produced by the engine's horsepower. 

The tractor has two types of horsepower:

Engine horsepower

It indicates the power produced by the engine

Power-take-off (PTO) horsepower

Indicates the quantity of power available to run the machine operations.

Though there are variations such as the metric horsepower, which is about 10 watts less in general according to modern standards, one horsepower = 746 watts of power

The horsepower rating of a given tractor usually refers to the "engine horsepower," which is separate from the horsepower offered by the power take-off, a number that is smaller than the rating for the engine; therefore, engine horsepower is a suitable measurement.

What is the calculation method of horsepower?

Horsepower is directly proportional to the RPM and torque; hence, the horsepower is calculated through the watt equation, including torque and RPM. The more the torque, more is the RPM, which ultimately produces high horsepower.

The formula is:

HP = torque x RPM ÷ 5252

Where "5252" is a common constant if the speed is in RPM and torque is ft-lbf.

Different horsepower’s and their significance

A range of different horsepower’s determine various other functions and play different roles in the farm accordingly.

15 to 20 HP range 

Horsepower in this range is usually designed according to a bare lawn or garden tractor. This range is sufficient for typical lawn-related tasks such as mowing the earth, pulling carts or small trailers full of debris or supplies, etc. The fuel consumption is less and is safe to handle for a small farm. 

These tractors are specially designed for Potato, Cotton, Paddy, Rice, Onion, Apple, Mango, cultivation.

25 to 35 HP range

A bigger step to the garden, this range is adequate for the subcompact or mini utility tractors. Their extra power organises for a front-end loader and a backhoe attachment. This is specifically for the small-scale field cultivation. These tractors have a PTO HP for the implements to work out.  Its spinning driveshaft enables tools like mowers, loaders, or backhoe to reach energy from the engine to run. Most tractors come with a standard rear-mounted PTO, but midpoint PTOs are also available with some models. This HP range is perfect for a small-scale field cultivation.

These tractors are ideal for crops like Paddy, Rice, Vegetables, Fruits like Mango, Chickko, Oranges, Watermelon, Grapes cultivation.  

40 to 50 HP range

This range fills the space between compact utility tractors and regular utility tractors. It is a bigger step than compact tractors with an extra capability to improve the increased number of farming functions compared to the earlier two. This tractor is perfect choice for an occasional farmer or anyone who is willing to work with a slow speed and perform the functions on small levels.

Functions such as ploughing fields and baling small square hay bales are possible with this horsepower range. It is best suited for challenging conditions like working in clay soil or pulling a wagon behind the hay baler. They are excellent with work efficiency in clay soil, or muddy terrain, and the superb tyre grip of the tractors efficiently manages the functions.

These tractors are great to work with bigger and commercial crops like Wheat, Maize, in addition to  Vegetables, Flowers, and Fruits  

60 to 90 HP range

This horsepower range better handles everything needed in a farm or regular farming on a large scale. The added power makes the tractor more stable on challenging jobs. Large farm ploughing, tilling, baling hay work with larger and wider implements faster than other tractors and are considered the more advanced technologically built machines for heavy loads of work in a field. These tractors' durability is very high and has a higher loading capacity, suitable for transportation.

The crops that are usually cultivated with this range of tractors are the bigger commercial crops like Sugarcane, Wheat, Jowar, Bajra, Cotton, etc.

100 to 150 HP range

As you may have guessed by now, yes, this range is incredibly the strongest and can perform most extreme levels of farming activities efficiently and can be used for a complete commercial level of farming. Of course, the tractors are a bit costlier as compared to the other range tractors.

They are perfect for heavy functions like forage harvesting, construction, and large-scale plantations. These tractors are capable of performing all the heavy tasks like harvesting, ploughing, tilling, transportation, etc.

Hence if buying this tractor doesn’t feel possible, you can always settle for the 60 to 90 HP range, which, may not be this advanced but is sufficient for a large farm and to perform the heavy functions like the 100 to 150 ranged horsepower.

To sum up, it's unnecessary to purchase a bigger tractor, instead you can choose the other smaller tractors depending on your needs.

How to decide which HP range is suitable for you?

As we have seen, a horsepower of a tractor indicates its engine's work potential; it becomes utmost importance to look out when you are buying any tractor.

Selecting the correct horsepower depends on the size of land and farm applications.

For a small land, you need a low horsepower tractor, whereas you can choose a large horsepower tractor for large land and to work with heavy farm applications. 

So, which HP tractor is best for your farm? Comment below 

Significance of small farm tractors in Indian farming

Small farms are extremely vital for our economy and the well-being of our nation. Their support for the competitiveness and sustainability of rural economies is unavoidable. They protect and enhance natural resources in the environment, provide a nursery for developing new enterprises and marketing systems and maintain rural populations in India.

We will be looking at the overall concept of small farms, their statistics, and small farm tractors' importance. 

Let's begin…

Types of Farms

In India, you will find almost every type of lands, farms, and farm holders. Farms are usually classified into different types based on their sizes and landholdings.

Here is a list of different types of farm sizes in India.

• Marginal farms are the ones with a land size of below 1.00 hectare.
• Small farms are the ones with a land size of 1.00-2.00 hectare.
• Semi-medium farms are the ones with a land size of 2.00-4.00 hectare. 
• Medium farms are the ones with a land size of 4.00-10.00 hectare.
• Large farms are the ones with a land size of 10.00 hectare and above.

What Are the Small Farms?

In India, Small and marginal farms are those farms with less than 2 hectares of farmland. 

The farmers who either own these farms or work in these farms constitute about 86.2% of the country's total farmers as per the data available as of Feb 2021.

Such a large number of small and marginal farmers, approximately 12 million, are considered to be the backbone of the Indian agricultural economy.

Let's move on to understand the importance or significance of small farms.

What Type of Tractors Is Suitable for A Small Farm?

Obviously, a small to medium-sized tractor is the right choice for small farms. Larger tractors are excellent for large landholders with 15-20 acres or more, but for the small farm, a smaller machine is more versatile and can be used for tasks around the yard as well as out in the field.

Significance of Small Farm Tractor    

Small farm tractors are those in-between sub-compact tractors and mid-size tractors.

These tractors are offered in Cat-0 or Cat-1 hitches. It seems to be standard at this size, as does a three-cylinder diesel engine, which is good for functioning. 

All small tractors are compatible with reasonably robust bucket loaders. 

They are known to bridge the emissions gap, meaning many of these tractors offer horsepower ratings on either side of 27 hp, which is the cut-off for non-emissions-controlled engines. 

Emission systems on tractors are relatively a new technology and have yet to be proven in reliability and longevity. 

Small tractors sit in a precarious spot, bridging both the emissions gap and hitch categories, which means many small tractors will be a little too wide for a Cat-0 implement but underpowered for many Cat-1 tools. 

Many of these small farm tractors fit on a landscape trailer, making them easier to transport than their larger brethren. 

Because of their size, they also tend to be less intimidating to the beginner tractor owners. 

In India, small farm tractors range between 2.5L to 5L. These are the most reasonably affordable tractor range. These prices are compatible with both marginal and small farm owners.

Small tractors are a versatile breed of machines that take tools in the front, back and under their belly, pulling way more than their weight.

These are the tractors equipped with a 540-rpm PTO and a three-point hitch designed for various tools.

For very small holdings, two hectors or less, a suitable tractor is undoubtedly likely to be found in the 15kw to 25kw horsepower range. Generally speaking, a small machine should have between 45 HP and 75 HP.

These are the tractors that have the four-wheel drive (4WD). Modern technology has made 4WD drivetrains much more reliable and affordable. A 4WD is particularly useful in slippery ground conditions simply by providing that little bit of extra traction via the front wheels, which is often all that is required when rear-wheel traction starts to falter.

These tractors have a power steering feature, and it is well worth any extra cost.

A tractor three-point linkage is found at the rear of these tractors. 

These tractors have a hydraulic outlet, capable of powering a hydraulic cylinder if you intend to fit a front-end loader or an external hydraulic motor for its lifting capacity, speed of action, and ability to operate several hydraulic functions simultaneously. 

Different sizes of small tractors have different lifting capabilities. They can lift heavy loads of gravel, mulch, feed, hay, manure, etc. 

They are compact in size, with the general components of the tractors like wheelbase, wheel track, stature, weight, turning range, which is reasonable for the majority of the harvests like "cotton, lentil/beats, castor, grapes, groundnut, pomegranate, sugar stick. It tends to be altered to suit the necessity of each farmer, from marginal to small tractors. 

These small tractors have a short turning capacity because of their small size that permits the tractor to explore around deterrents without harm to the yield effortlessly. It is valuable for cultivation crops.

They are light in weight, and because of the lightweight, the soil isn't squeezed during any activity. Thus, it is exceptionally valuable in sandy soils or for within development.

These days, organizations offer less price small tractor and prudent tractors, which is why farmers want to purchase small tractors to fulfill their needs.

Summary

You can witness that while the initial investment in a small-farm tractor may be high for some farmers, they are the most durable ones.

If the small farm tractors are well maintained, they will easily last 30 years or more with minimal ongoing costs.

The cost of a small farm tractor is the most favored expense among the small farmer of India.

Small farm tractors are extremely beneficial for about 82% of farmers in India.

They are the most demanded tractors in India and thus are the most popular tractors in India.

You will have to keep in mind these tractors' critical features, like the horsepower, lifting capacity, cc, transmission, hydraulics, drives used, and emission systems, while purchasing one.

Why Do Tractors Have a Low HP Despite Having More CC

 

Cc is the engine capacity measured for every vehicle that works on an engine. Cc is measured in cubic centimeters while horsepower is measured in Kilowatt.

Horsepower is more important as it is used to signify the speed of a vehicle while cc is just used for indicating the physical dimension of the automobile engine.

So, now, tractor engines are expected to produce high torque at relatively low RPM's. In contrast to Cars, that need high HP for speed, Tractor engines generally don't care how big or heavy they are. Instead, they are built for heavy loads to work with.

Tractors are heavy vehicles; they need to pull a lot of resistance while working.

Hence power in the form of torque is needed in order to get more torque.

Rpm should be low, generally for tractors rpm for maximum torque is around 1500 and bhp is at 2250

Higher compression ratio is needed for the proper working of the engine.

More stroke length/stroke to bore ratio is greater than one of such engines are called under square engines.

Another reason is more piston and crank weight. The tractor system works with more torque and less power that is bhp.

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